Chicks outside in the cold w/ Heat lamps???

6 and 12 week old chicks in a OSB enclosure (4' wide by 8 feet long by 30 inches high). I just put them outside and have 2 250 watt heat lamps in the coop(red ones). Do you think they will stay warm enough? It is supposed to get down into teens this week.

If it is draft free and you can confirm that the chicks are warm enough at 3 am in the morning. They can be out there no problem.

I just noticed you said 6 and 12 week old chicks. Two heat bulbs like that with no draft and they will be fine! The 12 weekers should be feathered and the 6 weekers are getting close. Put them out and keep an eye on them.

You know, I was really confused about the whole brooder vs. outside in the cold thing, too.

We got our first ever batch of chicks from McMurray on February 10, and winter temps generally range from 15 to 45 F where we are.

Maybe we were completely unprepared, or our cardboard water heater box brooder was completely inadequate, but by a week or so, I was totally ready to have those fluffy maniacs out of my house! We moved them into their brand new (very secure and draft free) coop at 9 days old, with two heat lamps, tons of food, fresh water, and most importantly, tons of room!

It's only been a couple of weeks since they've been out there, but they appear to be in chicken heaven. I think it must totally depend on the facilities. If your coop is such that they can stay warm and dry, they appear to do great.

Exactally. It all depends on the facilities. A cardboard box brooder is a death sentence outside in the early spring, but a enclosed chicken coop for day olds in freezing weather is fine as long as it is draft free and you can keep the heat up in the building. If food, water, space, and heat can be provided at the correct levels, they are good to go. Only challenge is if they are far outside, you can't watch them in your bed clothes!

I actually keep mine out in a out door brooder from week one onwards. I give them a heat lamp and out they go.